The
ion bracelet is a balance bracelet that contains mineral ionizers. The
Tourmaline Bracelet, for example, is a processed combination of silicone
rubber, titanium, tourmaline (a silicate mineralhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourmaline),
and ceramic. (http://www.intheholegolf.com/page/ITHG/PROD/TWB/TNL)
The Tourmaline Bracelet closely resembles the Rayma bracelet. The only
difference between the two is that the Rayma bracelet simply contains “special
metals” which contain alternate types of mineral alloys (http://www.rnsupply.com/BalanceBracelet.html).
However, despite their differences in composition, these bracelets, along with
almost all other ion bracelets, work on the exact same principles. These
bracelets (along with necklaces, rice cookers, washing machines…) are primarily
a product of Japan and are one of the numerous products associated with
using “minus-ions.” (http://www.japaninc.net/article.php?articleID=961)

What does an ion
bracelet do?

The purpose of the ion bracelet is to reduce pain and
restore bodily energy. Golfers, for example, may use a bracelet to help relieve
stresses in their wrists, which enables improvement of their golf swing. (http://www.sims-sport.co.uk/raymaconcept.html)
Other specific effects the bracelet is said to have include: restoration of
important balance of ions, warming of feet and hands, greater focus and
concentration, and improved recovery of athletic fatigue. (http://www.titanrules.com/pages/2/index.htm)

How is the ion
bracelet supposed to work?

The
bracelet uses yin-yang therapy and what is known as the “autoinduction
principle.” According to bracelet advertisers, the yin-yang ideal works by
giving off specific alternating electrical currents (like your wrist). The
currents are composed through different interactions between positive and
negative ions. (http://www.opamerica.com/product_info.php/products_id/803)

Positive
and negative ions are found everywhere—from the air, to the ground, and in our
bodies. In salts, such as common table salt, sodium chloride (NaCl), the
molecules are connected with ionic bonds. Once the bond is broken, (may it be
through water, wind, or some other outside force) the salt forms a cation and
anion. Cations are positively charged and anions are negatively charged ions.
These different types of ions circulate all throughout our bodies and serve as
everything from the constituents of our pH level, to chemical signals for
proteins. (Tocci & Viehland, 1996)

According
to advertisers, through the autoinduction principle, the bracelet absorbs the
static electricity given off by the body in order to seek balance between these
ions. Pain is caused by an imbalance when organs or tissues lose some of their
energy. As energy is given off, it may fall within the bracelet’s range of
frequency; then bracelet will give off an opposite form of energy. This process
returns the organ’s or tissue’s energy to its original state, thus negating the
pain. (http://www.opamerica.com/product_info.php/products_id/803)

Unfortunately,
the only research on the “autoinduction principle” was based on a principle
published in 1965 by Marshall Urist a UCLA orthopedic surgeon. His principle
revolved around morphogenetic proteins involved in bone-grafting, not mineral
anion therapy. This information was found at http://cms.nursingcenter.com/dev/prodev/ce_article.asp?tid=543563#45,
a well documented site but purely related to orthopedic surgery. In researching
various other medical, biology, and chemistry journals, there no existence of
the “autoinduction principle” could be found. Therefore if the “autoinduction
principle” concerning ion bracelets truly exists, it is apparently not at all
acknowledged in the scientific community.

As for evidence behind the specific mechanics on
minus-ion therapy: there is none. None of the bracelets are FDA approved, and
many of the sites with disclaimers explicitly state that the bracelets have no
medical claim. The most similar reported studies examined negative ion
particles in air, but even those studies have no substantial claim. In order to
gain FDA approval, the product must be clinically tested and proven effective.
(http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/21cfrv1_04.html).
Most of the minus-ion technology that has been created is based in Japan, and
is usually grouped with holistic remedies. The primary reason the product sells
so effectively is the mass media craze concerning their apparent “health
benefits.” Once the word “minus-ion” has been stamped onto a product, it sells
extremely well and thus marketers exploit this label. Thus the products are
continuously sold and bought with no backing of evidence or scholarly approval.
(http://www.japaninc.net/article.php?articleID=961)

How do I know if
it’s really supposed to work?

Advertisers claim the bracelet can be worn 24 hours a
day, but that it will only retain its bioelectric charge for 18-36 months
depending on one’s “pH balance”. Unfortunately, however, because everyone’s
exact pH balance is not uniform; the effects are unique to the user. (http://www.opamerica.com/product_info.php/products_id/803)
Therefore, theoretically, this gives the marketers a scapegoat explanation if
someone realizes that the bracelet may have no effect on them at all: It is not
the bracelet’s fault. Your pH balance is just off.

Additionally,
the bracelet should not be worn with any other metallic jewelry or items, or
else the bracelet may lose its effect. (http://www.balancebracelet.com/usageguide.html)
Unfortunately, none of these restrictions or loss of effects are given explanation
for their reasoning. The short answers given are that they simply are not good.
And as seen in the examples above, the usual case is the person’s fault, not
the bracelets. Characteristics of the user’s bodily chemistry or pain
frequencies hinder the bracelets’ effectiveness.

Testimonials:

Rayma
bracelets have testimonials from various athletes and professionals. Other
websites and bracelet brands also publicized other testimonials from customers,
but Rayma was the only major brand to provide stories of their experiences of
bracelet effects from prominent well-known figures as well as photographs. The
following are supposed Rayma bracelet testimonies:

Tom Kay:

Tom wears a bracelet because he believes it helps
prevent the chronic fatigue he experienced in 1998. Kay states “[that the] band
will help boost my immune system and aid me in my recovery from training
helping me to realize my goal of competing in my third Olympics.” This
interview was at initially taken from http://www.sims-sport.co.uk/raymaconcept.html
but on 9/20/05 the site had http://www.sims-sport.co.uk/raymaconcept.html
been shut down. He was a three-time World Championship gold medalist rower in
91’, 92’ and 94’. (http://www.ara-rowing.org/TK2000.htm)
However there is no alternate evidence that Tom has ever worn or has ever
endorsed the Rayma Band, leading one to question the validity of the testimony.

Are there any
harmful side effects or precautions I should know about?

The wearer of Tourmaline bracelets must be weary
under certain conditions. If one suffers from long-term chronic illness, then
one must consult a doctor.Also,if one uses an electrical device
(such as a pacemaker) you must also consult a doctor. (http://www.opamerica.com/product_info.php/products_id/803)
However, similar to any of the claims about its effectiveness, there are no
explanations given explaining exactly why one should consult a doctor.

The
majority of the websites have the disclaimer informing the customer that there
are no medical claims about the products and that the information on the
websites should not be considered as advice or medical claim but simply as
“general information.” (http://www.healthbracelets.net/tandc.htm)
The lack of medical claims and valid information indicate the lack of evidence
and substantial data to prove balance bracelets as a valid form of medical
treatment. This does not deny that the fact that it may truly provide
advantageous effects, it just has not been proven yet.

Is there any
evidence?

Although
there was no evidence of clinical trials or tests that have been used to
validate ion bracelets, according tohttp://my.webmd.com/content/article/65/72756.htm,
scientists have performed studies to try to prove that negative ions in the air
are beneficial. Dr Pierce J. Howard, claims that “Generally speaking, negative ions increase the flow of
oxygen to the brain; resulting in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness, and
more mental energy," (as cited in http://my.webmd.com/content/article/65/72756.htm) from the CentACS Center for Applied Cognitive Sciences in Charlotte, N.C. (http://www.centacs.com/brain.htm
) He may appear like an advocate for people to go out and try tourmaline
bracelets but then again he says, "The
safest course of action, in my opinion, would be to use units that have been
demonstrated effective in our clinical trials and trials to come." (http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/65/72756.htm?pagenumber=2)
Therefore, although there may be some research accomplished that can help
validate the theory of negative ions, there is no evidence that shows that the
bracelets are truly beneficial.

And the bottom line
is…

In conclusion, the bracelets are unscientific. In
order for something to be scientific, a theory or hypothesis must be testable
and have some element of falsifiability. The ion bracelet has no element of
testability and they is not allowed any falsifiability. Instead, the
advertisers claim that the reason the bracelet may not work is because of the
user’s strange pain frequencies, or pH balance, or some other weird abnormal
disfiguring trait about them—all indicating that the bracelet is not at fault,
and essentially it should work. This does not prove that the bracelet does not
work, but because it is unscientific gives it no more credibility than
astrology or mythology. The bracelet’s methods of mechanics change in order to
“match” explanations.

The bracelet is not a product of western medicine but
yet does not follow the same rules of China’s theory of yin-yang or chi either. Instead, it
elevates these therapies on an extending set of assumptions that not only is
there electrical currents in the body, but that a small bracelet (usually made
of a rubbery compound mixed with traces metal) can actually absorb positive
ions coming from your organs and tissue, and replace it with negative ones.
Moreover, one must follow the assumption that these negative ions (and not the
positive ones) are actually beneficial for one’s health. All these inventions
should force one to consider if spending 10’s to 100’s of dollars is truly
worth being put into essentially a rubber band bracelet, necklace, or anklet
which may…or probably will not work for you.